Constellation sail legend. What is remarkable about the constellation Sail? Celestial objects of the constellation Sails

The constellation Sails is geographically located in the southern hemisphere of the starry sky.

The closest neighbors of the constellation Sail are Pump, Korma, Compass, Centaurus, and also Carina. The area occupied by the considered constellation in the sky is 499.6 square degrees. Of the entire abundance of stars in the Sails, an observer can distinguish about 195 from the Earth without the use of additional optical devices.

The constellation Sails, as seen in the Stellarium planetarium program

On the territory of Russia, this constellation is difficult to observe. Part of it can be seen only in the southern regions of the country, and the further south the observer, the more likely it is to consider the constellation. The best conditions for contemplating at least some of the components of this constellation come in February.

Astronaut's lucky joke gives name to star

Speaking about the stars of the constellation Sails, it is worth starting with the brightest - the star Gamma. Other names for this luminary are Suhail (Suhail al Mulif) and Regor (sometimes "Roger" due to the humor of the astronaut aboard Apollo 1). Often the star is called the Illusory Pearl of the Southern Sky. The long and mysterious name is explained by radiation instead of dark and absorbing rays of incredibly bright, due to which the spectrum of the star Gamma is very exotic.

Remote from us at 800 St. years, given star of the second magnitude is a multiple system, which includes at least six components. The brightest among all is considered to be Gamma-2 Sails, which in itself is also, and includes an O9 class supergiant and a Wolf-Rayet type star. The last star is special in that it is recognized as the heaviest one ever found to date. Secondary after Gamma-2, it is supposed to consider the Gamma-1 component - a white-blue subgiant of the fourth magnitude of class B. The Regor star system has several more faint stars that have only 8, 9 and 13th magnitudes.

Another multi-star system of Sails

It turns out that the Delta star is not far from Gamma Sails in terms of the number of components. Delta Sails is the second brightest in the constellation and is another multiple system in its composition. Unfortunately, the star does not have any common name. It is 80 light years away from Earth.

The composite star system contains two binary stars. The first visual double star is represented by the components Delta Sails A and B. The luminary Delta A is located on the main sequence and appears to be a white dwarf of the second magnitude. Component A's companion, Delta B, is a fifth-magnitude yellow dwarf.

At 69 arc seconds from this system, there is another, much dimmer system. It is represented by Delta C and Delta D - stars of the eleventh and thirteenth magnitudes, respectively. The distance between these two components is 6 arc seconds. It is worth noting that the Delta Sails star system is the brightest among all eclipsing-variable luminaries in the sky. And after some 7,000 years, she is predicted to play the role of the South Pole Star as a result of the precession of the earth's axis.

Objects of deep and distant space

First of all, it is worth saying a few words about the False Cross asterism as part of the constellation under consideration, which is formed by its stars Delta, Kappa, Yot and Epsilon of the Carina constellation. Asterism got its name for its resemblance to the constellation. However, unlike the latter, the specified asterism is not an indicator of the South Pole of the world. This erroneous judgment previously often led to a variety of navigational errors.

Here in Sails, at a distance of 2 thousand St. years from us, the planetary nebula of the Eight Flares or the South Rim is located. In the center of the nebula is a rather hot color that illuminates the entire nebula with ultraviolet rays.

There is also a Gama Nebula in the constellation, which is considered to be a remnant that occurred about 11-12 thousand years ago. The nebula is also called Gam 12. It extends to the constellation Puppis and is an emission nebula.

Story

To this day, many consider Sails to be part of another larger constellation called the Argo Ship, known to all thanks to ancient Greek mythology. However, back in 1752, Lacaille proposed dividing such a large constellation into smaller ones, thanks to which three new constellations appeared in the sky. In addition to, in fact, Sails, constellations were also formed under the names Korma and Kiel. However, the names of the stellar components have not changed, so there are no stars in the Sails marked with alpha or beta - these stars have retained the names assigned during their stay in the constellation Ship Argo.

List of constellations in the spring sky

[i] CONSTELLATION SAIL
Sails help wandering people who bring light and goodness, or just people who love to travel, both by plane and by ship or train, car. They protect against troubles and hardships while traveling. So that the trip goes well, say before the fair wind travels in the sails. Star. It’s good to have a ship with sails in the house, then you will travel a lot and life will sail in a calm direction. It’s good to have an icon of sails, preferably blue, scarlet - for love. all colors of the rainbow to have sails in the house. Red sails heal blood. Orange for optimism, humor in life, cheerfulness, yellow for warming from the cold world. Green for gaining the energy of nature. Blue for communication with the sky, the other world. , teachers, wisdom. In general, it is best to have rainbow-colored sails, then there will be no storm in your life. So that there is love in the house, draw a ship with scarlet sails and put the whole family on the photo, then peace and tranquility and love will reign in the house. use sails when you want to go to another country or travel for a long time. So that you meet only good people along the way. Sails know everything about the magic of the wind. Write your desire on a piece of paper. For example er: in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit, may I have a husband. Amen. Burn the letter, and scatter the ashes in the wind, saying the ashes fly to my betrothed or betrothed. Sails give lightness to the body, as if you are sailing, do not walk, on the wave. different countries, especially love to sail on ships. The life of sail people is full of adventures - they are altruists, airy, windy people, rush around the world in search of happiness and adventure. In order to find adventure in a boring life, draw blue sails by writing I want adventure and soon they will appear. Sails fill your life with the wind, taking away everything bad from you. Always say when you go from the house of a fair wind to me in my sails. And you will be lucky, another good sign, to sit in front of the road in silence so that the road is successful. a wave and people adjust the sails, depending on the mood and weather, they can be lazy and tired, or they can be fast and fast. Therefore, getting out of bed, say the sails are stretched, waiting for a fair wind, amen.
Sails is a constellation that is located in the southern sky and from Latin "Vela" is translated as "Sails".
It was once part of the larger constellation Argo Ship, which is the ship of the Argonauts. It was first recorded by Ptolemy in the second century. And in the 1750s, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille divided it into three: Sails, Keel and Stern.
It contains several notable objects: the Eight Flare Nebula (NGC 3132), the Gum Nebula, the Parus supernova remnant, the Pencil Nebula (NGC 2736), and the Parus omicron cluster (IC 2391).
The myth of the constellation Sails
The constellation depicts part of the Argo Ship, on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolkos to obtain the Golden Fleece. It was created by Argus, who used the help of Athena. When the expedition ended, they dedicated the ship to Poseidon, who placed it in the sky.
In 1752, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille divided the giant constellation into three smaller ones: Sails, Carinae and Korma. He used one set of Greek letters for all the constellations, so the Sails are devoid of Alpha and Beta (departed to Carina).
WIND MAGIC
Spheres of application of energy:

Intelligence, creativity, learning, discovery, attractiveness, individuality, insight, freedom and liberation, travel, independence, lightness, cheerfulness, pleasure, play, communication, the ability to concentrate power. Energy Concentrators:
Smoke, air, wind, bird feathers, bells, needles, pins.
Traditional associations:

Direction of the world: East.

Yellow color. Season: Spring.

The wind is somewhat similar to Fire - they are related by unrestraint, riot. But Fire is driven by something close to rage (this is not rage towards someone or something, it is the rage of moving towards the goal, the rage of a breakthrough), then the Wind is a rash, a daring one. He is characterized by gaiety, mischief, his basis is freedom. He does not burden himself with obligations. He loves to play, or rather, he lives effortlessly.
The wind is also the younger brother of the Earth, he was born together with Water. They played together on a still deserted planet, until the time came to manifest their materiality and give rise to life on Earth (in its material form).
The task of the Wind is to transfer energy to living beings and collect information that it does not store for a very short time, sharing it with others, primarily with Water. Wind is friendly with Fire, although Water shuns it, since their characters are opposite. Water often has to restrain the fury of Fire in its movement, because its Path is the path of will and strength, while it does not really care about those around it. Although, he loves Water (and who in our world does not love her?) And is gentle with her, but he often argues with her.
Wind and Fire often act in pairs, supporting and nourishing each other with their energy.

Wind Energy is light, free. If you need to get rid of the load, dispel something - this is to the Wind. Use his energy where you need to organize a holiday - either in relationships between people, or ease and pleasure at work. Call the Wind for help when you need to lighten your soul, remove from yourself or others the burden of experiences, pain and resentment. Give the energy of the Wind to children - after all, he himself looks like a big child.
Wind Energy also contributes to the development of intellect, mental abilities, gives inspiration for creative endeavors, liberates and makes it possible to gain freedom.

In healing:

Of all the elements, Wind is the least used in healing. Actually, it is not used for treatment as such - its energy is good for general cleansing of the body, for example, for removing decay products after "burning out" by Fire. It's like sweeping up after someone who has done a job. Its energy gives lightness, a sip of joy in case of a serious illness, helps to get out of depression, improve mood. Image of the Wind

I stand on the top of the hill with my arms outstretched and I feel the gusts of wind all over my body. He blows my hair and clothes. I look up into the sky and see fast moving, ever-changing clouds. I close my eyes and feel how the Wind fills my being. Joy fills me - pure, causeless joy, as in childhood. The world is huge and beautiful, I am free in it! There are no barriers, I can do everything! The body becomes light and airy. I reach up to the clouds, I want to fly! Unrestrained mischief is added to the feeling of joy.
Why not! I want to fly! A gust of wind picks me up and I take off. Here it is, here it is! That, almost forgotten, childlike feeling of flying! I am laughing. All feelings are mixed, and they can be described by only one concept: absolute happiness. I rise up to the clouds, with a sharp impulse I cut through their snow-white weightless thickness. I collect them together: and then I tear them apart... I mold them into infinitely fluid and changeable forms, they are like a thought - light, free and without rest. You can create clouds endlessly, but I break away from them and rise higher. Emotions calm down.
I see how huge atmospheric fronts move above the earth, redistributing information and energies of colossal force. Their movement is not at all chaotic, it is subject to the laws of the Life of our planet. A single living organism where everything is interconnected. I look through the breaks in the clouds at the Earth and see all the details of the relief. I see rivers, lakes, I see people and animals. I see Life as a whole, I understand it. This understanding cannot be translated into words, I just know what everything follows from and what it will lead to in its movement along the Great Circle of Life.
My attention is drawn to a beautiful proud bird soaring not far away. The bird begins to descend and I realize that I need to follow it. I gently lower myself to the ground and watch her landing. The bird touches the ground and turns into a young man. Tall and slender, with fair skin, blond, unruly, disheveled hair, and amazing, huge, deep, sun-colored eyes. autumn sky on a mischievous snub-nosed face. His clothes are adorned with feathers and colorful, flowing ribbons. He walks, and his every movement causes the wind. The grasses bend to line his path, the trees wave their branches in greeting. He smiles and holds out his hand to me. I take his hand and look into his eyes. He does not say anything, but I understand that he is glad to see me, that he is always ready to come to my Circle if I call him. He is interested and he does not mind giving me his Power. He has a lot of Power - and what else to do with it, if not to give.
But it's time for him, constancy is not in his character. I let go of the young man's hand and step back, and a whirlwind is already spinning around him. Another moment I see his smiling face, tousled hair, colored ribbons fluttering in the wind. The vortex thickens, quickly rises up, and now I see the bird again. A wide circle above my head, a melodious piercing cry, and a beautiful free bird dissolves into the heavenly distance. And a light, slightly curved feather descends on my palm - a farewell greeting from the Wind.
Wind - attunement to the Element

The best time to do it is early morning. Choose a place where you will not be disturbed, preferably somewhere on a hill. The weather must be windy. Face east, close your eyes and relax. Feel the wind ruffle your hair, touch your face, run through your body. Breathe in the scent of herbs and flowers brought to you by the Wind. Begin rhythmic breathing: a deep breath and a smooth, slow exhalation. Your breathing will gradually become even, calm, light and pleasant.
Call the image of the Wind. Focus your attention and feelings on it. Live this image, feel how the Wind enters you along with the air that you inhale. You absorb it with your lungs, your skin, your whole body. Feel how easy and free it became on the soul. Feel the mischief and freedom. Shout (be naughty, so in full!).
Look at the clouds floating in the blue sky above. This is your planet, this is your home!
Remember your feelings. Thank the Wind for the attention shown to you.
Now, invoking the power of the Wind, it will be enough for you to recall these sensations in your memory.
Don't miss the chance to freshen up the tuning. It is not necessary to go out to a deserted place again, it is enough on a windy day, just walking along the street, to feel consonance with the Wind, to cause a feeling of lightness, to smile sincerely.
WIND - examples of work

Connecting to the Element and using its energy.

> Sails

An object Designation Meaning of the name Object type magnitude
1 Gamma Sails "Main Star of the Oath" multiple star 1.83
2 Delta Sails "Beam and Arrow" triple star 1.99
3 Lambda Sails "Smooth Plain" Orange supergiant 2.21
4 Kappa Sails "Ride" double star 2.48
5 Mu Sails Not double star 2.69
6 Phi Sails "Star Map" Blue-white supergiant 3.52
7 Psi Sails Not double star 3.60

Story constellation Sails in the southern hemisphere: part of the Argo Ship, description with photo, diagram, star map, myth and legend, facts, bright stars, asterism.

Sails - constellation, which is located in the southern sky and from Latin "Vela" is translated as "Sails".

It was once part of the larger constellation Argo Ship, which is the ship of the Argonauts. It was first recorded by Ptolemy in the second century. And in the 1750s, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille divided it into three: Sails, Keel and Stern.

The constellation Sails contains several notable objects: the Eight Flare Nebula (NGC 3132), the Gum Nebula, the Sails supernova remnant, the Pencil Nebula (NGC 2736) and the Sails omicron cluster (IC 2391).

Facts, position and map of the constellation Sails

Sail
Lat. title Vela
Reduction Vel
Symbol Sail
right ascension from 8 h 00 m to 11 h 00 m
declination -56° 30' to -36° 45'
Square 500 sq. degrees
(32nd place)
brightest stars
(value< 3 m )
  • γ Vel - 1.82 m
  • δ Vel - 1.93 m
  • λ Vel - 2.21 m
  • µ Vel - 2.69 m
meteor showers
  • Delta Velides
  • Gamma Velides
  • Puppids-Velids
neighboring constellations
  • Pump
  • Compass
  • Stern
  • Centaurus
The constellation is visible at latitudes from +34° to −90°.
The best time for observation is February.

Contains 5 stars with planets and no Messier objects. The brightest star is Gamma Parus, whose apparent visual magnitude reaches 1.75. There are three meteor showers: Delta Velida, Gamma Velida and Puppida Velida. Included in the Heavenly Waters group along with, and. Consider the scheme of the constellation Sails on the map of the starry sky.

The myth of the constellation Sails

The constellation depicts part of the Argo Ship, on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolkos to obtain the Golden Fleece. It was created by Argus, who used the help of Athena. When the expedition ended, they dedicated the ship to Poseidon, who placed it in the sky.

In 1752, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille divided the giant constellation into three smaller ones: Sails, Carinae and Korma. He used one set of Greek letters for all the constellations, so the Sails are devoid of Alpha and Beta (departed to Carina).

The main stars of the constellation Sails

Explore closely the bright stars of the constellation Parus southern hemisphere with detailed descriptions and specifications.

Suhail(Gamma Sails) is a multiple star system (6 stars) with an apparent magnitude of 1.7 and a distance of 336 light years.

The main object (A) is a spectroscopic binary star consisting of a blue supergiant (O7.5) and a massive Wolf-Rayet star (developed, extremely hot, massive, rapidly losing mass due to a powerful stellar wind). The Wolf-Rayet star is one of the closest supernova candidates and is likely to end in a Type Ic supernova explosion. The orbital period is 78.5 days, and the distance between them is 1 AU.

The closest satellite to them (B) is a blue-white subgiant (B). Other objects include C (a white star of visual magnitude 8.5) and a binary star composed of D and E.

D is a class A white star with an apparent magnitude of 9.4, and E is a 13th magnitude star.

Delta Sails is a multiple star system with an apparent visual magnitude of 1.96 and a distance of 80.6 light years. It is located near the border with the constellation Carina.

Represented by stars A and B, whose orbital period is 142 years. Visual magnitude A is 1.97 and B is 5.55. The primary component is a spectroscopic binary with a rotation period of 45.15 days. It is the brightest eclipsing star system. Both evolved away from the main sequence. Age - 400 million years.

At 69 arc seconds there is another binary system, represented by stars of 11th and 13th magnitude, divided by 6 arcseconds.

The star is also called Ku-She, which means "bow and arrow" in Chinese.

Lambda Sails- an orange star between a giant and a supergiant (K4.5Ib-II) with an apparent visual magnitude of 2.21 and a distance of 545 light years. It is a slow irregular LC type variable star whose brightness ranges from 2.14 to 2.30.

It is 8.5 times more massive than the Sun, 207 times larger in radius, and 10,000 times brighter. Age - 32 million years. Also called Suhail (like Gamma Sails). In China, it is known as pinyin - "the judge for judging the age of animals."

Kappa Sails is a spectroscopic binary star located 572 light years away. The visual magnitude is 2.48. The combined stellar classification is B2 IV, making it a blue-white subgiant. The orbital period is 116.65 days.

Mu Sails- a double star located 117 light years away. Objects are separated by 1.437 arcseconds and have an orbital period of 116.24 years. The total apparent visual magnitude is 2.69, and individual stars are 2.7 and 6.4.

The brighter object is a yellow giant (G5 III), which is 3.3 times as massive, 13 times larger in radius, and 107 times brighter. The companion is a yellow dwarf (G2V) of the main sequence.

HD 82668- an orange giant (K5 III) with an apparent magnitude of 3.16 and a distance of 239 light years. Located between Sails and Kiel. Twice as massive as the Sun and 29 times larger in radius.

Phi Sails- a blue-white supergiant (B5 Ib) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.52 and a distance of 1590 light years. The traditional name Tsei Ke means "heaven's record" in Chinese.

Omicron Sails- a blue-white subgiant (B3 IV) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.60 and a distance of 490 light years to us. It is 5.5 times more massive than the Sun, 4.3 times larger in radius, and 1000 times brighter. It is a variable star whose luminosity ranges from 3.55 to 3.67 over 2.78 days.

Psi Sails- a binary star with an apparent magnitude of 3.60 and a distance of 60.5 light years. Among the stars of the constellation, this is the closest one to our planet.

It is represented by a yellow-white subgiant (F3IV) with a visual magnitude of 4.1 and a yellow-white dwarf (F0V), whose apparent magnitude reaches 4.6. Divided by 0.68 arcseconds, and the orbital period is 33.99 years.

WISE 1049-5319- a binary system of brown dwarfs, distant 6.6 light years from the Sun (closest to our system). It was the closest to the Sun before the discovery of Barnard's Star (Ophiucus).

The main component has a stellar classification of L8 ± 1. The orbital period is 25 years, and the distance is 3 AU.

HD 78004 is an orange giant (K2III) with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.75 and an absolute magnitude of -1.14. Located at 309 light years.

HD 74180 is a binary star (F3Ia), whose visual magnitude reaches 3.77. It is located 3,100 light years from us. The main object is a yellow-white supergiant (irregular variable) with variations in brightness from magnitude 3.77 to 3.91. The companion is a star of 10th magnitude, separated by 37.5 arc seconds.

HD 92139 is a triple star system 86.5 light-years distant from Earth. The total apparent magnitude is 3.84. The main component is a yellow-white subgiant (F3IV) with an apparent magnitude of 4.5. It is a spectroscopic binary with two objects orbiting in 10.21 days.

Third star - white dwarf main sequence (A6V) with a visual magnitude of 5.1 and a distance of 0.3 arcseconds. It completes a revolution around the pair in 16.3 years.

HD 75063- a white giant (A1III) with a visual magnitude of 3.87 and a distance of 1550 light years. The absolute value is -4.54.

HD 73526 is a main sequence yellow dwarf (G6V) with an apparent visual magnitude of 9.00 and a distance of 310 light years. Reaches the solar mass, 1.49 times larger in radius and 1.77 times brighter.

Two planets revolve around it. The first one was found in 2002 with an orbital period of 187.5 days, and the second one was found in 2006 with an orbital period of 376.9 days. The planets form a 2:1 resonance. HD 73526 b is 2.07 times the mass of Jupiter, and HD 73526 c is 2.30 times.

WASP-19 is a main sequence yellow dwarf (G8V) with an apparent magnitude of 12.3 and a distance of 815 light years.

In 2009, a hot Jupiter, WASP-19 b, was found, with the shortest orbital period of 0.78884 days.

V390 Sails is an old, massive red giant (F3e). The star evolved from a red giant and began to shed layers, forming a dust disk. Eventually, it will create a planetary nebula. It is located 2600 light years away and has a visual magnitude of 10.48. 5000 times brighter than the Sun. This is a variable of type RV Taurus. A satellite revolves around it with a frequency of 499 days.

Asterism

false cross is an asterism created by the stars Delta Sails, Kappa Sails, Iota Carinae, and Epsilon Carinae. It is called "false" because it is often confused with the Southern Cross (used in navigation to find the south).

Celestial objects of the constellation Sails

Eight Flare Nebula(NGC 3132, Caldwell 74) is a bright planetary nebula spanning half a light year in diameter. The apparent visual magnitude is 9.87, and the distance is 2000 light years.

It got its name because, when observed through amateur telescopes, it resembles a figure eight. It contains two stars: a star of the 10th magnitude and a white dwarf of the 16th magnitude, blowing away the outer layers. It is the ultraviolet radiation from the second object that causes the nebula to glow.

(Gum 16) is a supernova remnant with an apparent visual magnitude of 12 and a distance of 815 light years. Occupies 8 degrees in diameter. The precursor star is believed to have exploded 11,000-12,300 years ago.

The remnant includes the Pencil Nebula (NGC 2736) and is associated with the Vela pulsar. It is also 4 times larger than the supernova remnant in Korma and overlaps it. Both are among the brightest and largest X-ray objects.

In 1998, another supernova was discovered in the direction of the Sails remnant - RX J0852.0-4622, 650 light-years distant from us.

Pulsar in Sails(PSR B0833-45) is a pulsar associated with a supernova remnant. It is located 959 light years away and has an apparent magnitude of 23.6. It is a source of radio, optical, gamma and X-ray radiation.

An association formed by astronomers at the University of Sydney in 1968 testified that supernovae form neutron stars.

Nebula Pencil(NGC 2736) is a nebula located near the Pulsar in Sails. It is 815 light years away from us. The apparent magnitude is 12. It is believed that it was formed from part of the shock wave of the supernova remnant.

(Gum 12) is an emission nebula spanning 40 degrees in the Sails and Stern. Located 400 parsecs from us. It contains the remnants of the Sails supernova and is thought to be a greatly expanded supernova remnant that exploded a million years ago.

In the 1950s, it was discovered by Australian astronomer Colin Gum.

Gum 19 A star-forming region located 22,000 light years away. It is illuminated by the large, bright blue supergiant V391 Parusov. Surface temperature - 30000 °C.

NGC 2670- an open cluster with an apparent visual magnitude of 7.8 and a distance of 3200 light years. Contains 50 moderately bright stars.

NGC 2899 is a planetary nebula located 6500 light years away. John Herschel found her in 1835.

NGC 2547 is an open cluster located 1500 light years away and has a visual magnitude of 4.7. The age of the stars is 20-35 million years.

It was discovered in 1751 by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille.

(Caldwell 79) is a globular cluster with a visual magnitude of 8.24 and a distance of 16,300 light years. Age - 10.24 billion years. It contains mostly old stars dominated by red giants. The radius covers 40 light years.

HH 47(Herbig-Haro 47) – Herbig-Haro object. It is a patch of nebula formed after a young star ejected narrow jets of gas that collided with nearby gas and dust clouds. Located 1500 light years away.

Sails omicron cluster(IC 2391, Caldwell 85) is a young open cluster located 500 light years away. Apparent magnitude - 2.5 (can be seen without the use of technology). It contains 30 stars and extends over 50 arc minutes.

You have the opportunity to study the constellation Sails of the southern hemisphere more closely if you use not only our photos, but 3D models and an online telescope. For independent search, a star map is suitable.

The sails are part of the ancient constellation Ship Argo. southern part the constellation is located in the most star-filled areas Milky Way so it sparkles brightly in the night sky.

With the naked eye, about a hundred stars can be seen in the constellation. As a result of the division of the Ship Argo into three constellations at the initiative of Lacaille in 1752, there were no α and β stars in the Sails. Therefore, the brightest luminaries of the constellation were γ (Regor), δ, λ (Al Suhail).

On the border of the Sails is the asterism False Cross, which is often mistaken for the constellation of the Southern Cross. Unlike the real one, the false cross is not directed to the south pole of the world, but points in a completely different direction.

The binary star γ Parusov is clearly visible through binoculars, the components having the brightness of the 2nd and 4th magnitudes are separated by a distance of 40 arc seconds. In this case, the main component of the pair is itself a close binary system in which two stars are adjacent. One very hot other is a Wolf-Rayet type star. The masses of the stars are respectively 38 and 20 solar masses. The orbital period of the pair is 78.5 days.

The smaller star is losing matter from its surface at a high rate. For the first time stars of this type were described in 1867 by French astronomers Charles Wolf (1827-1918) and Georges Rayet (1839-1906). The spectrum of this star shows broad multi-colored lines against a fairly bright continuous background. Astronomers call this star the “spectral pearl of the southern sky.”

The planetary nebula NGC 3132, located on the border with, is similar to, in Lira. However, it is noticeably brighter than the "Ring", and secondly, its central star is much brighter, which without

difficult to see with a small telescope. The glow of the nebula itself is excited by another star, its small companion with a surface temperature of about 100,000°K.

In Sails there is one of the most unusual objects of optical astronomy - a neutron star-pulsar Vela blinking at a frequency of 11 pulses per second.

This is an optical pulsar discovered in 1977, 10 years after the first one discovered in the Crab Nebula (the constellation of Taurus).

Both of them are also radio pulsars, emitting radio waves into outer space. Only the youngest pulsars exhibit optical outbursts.

Vela was formed as a result of an explosion supernova, which exploded in Sails about 12 thousand years ago, leaving behind a rapidly rotating neutron star with a gaseous shell expanding in all directions from it. Its diameter today has already reached 6 degrees. This very beautiful openwork structure lies on the galactic equator, between the stars γ and λ Parus.

The sails are part of the ancient constellation Ship Argo. The southern part of the constellation is located in the most star-filled regions of the Milky Way. Up to hundreds of stars can be seen in a constellation with the naked eye. After the division of the Ship Argo into three constellations at the initiative of Lacaille in 1752, there were no alpha and beta stars in the Sails. Therefore, gamma (Regor), delta, lambda (Al Suhail) became the brightest.

On the border of Sails and Carina is the asterism False Cross, which is often mistaken for the constellation of the Southern Cross. Unlike the real one, the false cross is not directed to the south pole of the world. The double star Gamma Sails is clearly visible through binoculars. Its components, which have magnitudes 2 and 4, are separated by a distance of 40 arcseconds. In this case, the main component of the pair is itself a close binary system in which two stars are adjacent. One of them is a Wolf-Rayet type star. The masses of the stars are respectively 38 and 20 solar masses. The orbital period of the pair is 78.5 days.

The smaller star is losing matter from its surface at a high rate. For the first time stars of this type were described in 1867 by French astronomers Charles Wolf (1827-1918) and Georges Rayet (1839-1906). The spectrum of this star shows broad multi-colored lines against a fairly bright continuous background. Astronomers call this star the “spectral pearl of the southern sky.”

The planetary nebula NGC 3132, located on the border with the Pump, is similar to the Ring Nebula in Lyra. However, it is noticeably brighter, and much brighter than its central star, which can be easily seen in a small telescope. The glow of the nebula itself is excited by its small companion with a surface temperature of about 100,000°K.

In Sails there is one of the most unusual objects of optical astronomy - the neutron star-pulsar Vela, blinking at a frequency of 11 pulses per second. This is the second optical pulsar, discovered in 1977, 10 years after the first one discovered in the Crab Nebula (the constellation of Taurus). Both of them are also radio pulsars, radiating radio waves into outer space. Vela was formed as a result of a supernova explosion that occurred in Parus about 12,000 years ago. He left behind a rapidly rotating neutron star with a gas envelope flying in all directions from it. Its diameter today has already reached 6 degrees. This very beautiful openwork structure lies on the galactic equator, between the stars Gamma and Lambda Sails.

Looking for a constellation in the sky

The constellation is visible at latitudes from -90° to +34°. The constellation Sails lies far south of the celestial equator and therefore is not observed on the territory of Russia. Neighboring constellations: Pump, Compass, Korma, Carina, Centaurus.

In autumn, Sails are on the southeast side of the horizon. At midnight, the constellation is still partly invisible. Above the sails is Korma with its bright star Canopus, which helps to find the constellation in the sky. To the right of the Sails, the Southern Cross rises from the horizon.

In winter, the Sails rise high into the sky and are visible all night on the southeast side of the sky. They are followed by the conspicuous Southern Cross and the Centaurus, which is easy to find by its two bright stars. Canopus (alpha Kipya) is located to the right and above the Sails.

In the summer at midnight, the Sails set beyond the horizon a little to the right of the south point. Above them, a part of the setting Kiel is also visible. Bright Canopus has already disappeared over the horizon. The main reference point here will be the Southern Cross, which is located above the Sails.